Twenty-Two Names to Know for the Ole Miss Season: No. 9 JJ Pegues

OXFORD, Miss. – As we lead up to week one in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the kickoff of Ole Miss football’s 2024 season, The Rebel Walk team is highlighting one player each day for our ‘Ole Miss 22’ rankings. We’ll break down who they are, how they got here, and what we expect from each. 

Today, we take a look at the No. 9 player on the list, Defensive Tackle JJ Pegues. 

Four years ago, Oxford native JJ Pegues decided to take his talents to Auburn University, choosing the Tigers over his hometown Ole Miss Rebels. New head coach at the time Lane Kiffin then arrived, successfully getting the hometown player back to Oxford just two years into his college career. Fast forward to the end of fall camp of 2o24, and Pegues is a leader on the Pete Golding defense with expectations through the roof.

How did JJ Pegues get to Ole Miss?

Coming out of Oxford High School, Pegues was a 4-star-rated athlete ranked within the top 200 players in the country as well as being the No. 3-ranked player in the state. The future fan favorite Rebel led the Chargers to a 6A State Championship as well as participating in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star game before his college enrollment on the Plains.

After two seasons with the Tigers over in Auburn, Pegues entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2021 season. In January of 2022, the Mississippi product returned home to Oxford, looking to make an impact right away. Big No. 89 did just that, cementing himself among other Oxford natives to don the red and blue.

Career Outlook

As a true freshman for Auburn, the Oxford native had seven catches for 57 yards, as well as 14 rushing yards as an offensive weapon for the Tigers. Pegues played in 24 games with two starts over the course of two seasons at Auburn. Starting out as a tight end with the Tigers, the blue-chip prospect eventually made the move to the defensive line in 2021 as he finished the season with 16 tackles.

Pegues saw the field right away on the interior defensive line for the Rebels. As a junior, the first-year Rebel recorded 25 total tackles while adding three sacks as well.

Coming off of a solid first season with the Rebels as a rotational defensive tackle, Pegues had bigger plans in the year 2023. The big nose tackle racked up 40 total tackles, deflected a pair of passes and tallied three-and-a-half sacks on the year. The athletic big man was also used as an athlete for the Rebels over the last two seasons, carrying the ball four times and also catching a touchdown pass during the 2022 season.

JJ PEGUES!! @JeremiahPegues4
🖥 https://t.co/sSCEB25VxD pic.twitter.com/adfkkL7EV8

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 30, 2022

Much to the joy of Rebel fans, Pegues decided after the 2023 Peach Bowl that he would be returning to Ole Miss for his final season of eligibility.

Unfinished business!!!! Spot The Ball!!!@LetsGo_Bo5 @grovecollectnil @CoachGolding pic.twitter.com/syXGqFR4wH

— JJ Pegues (@JeremiahPegues4) November 30, 2023

Heading into 2024

Pegues returned to be a part of what appears to be one of the premier defensive lines in college football with notable teammates such as Princely Umanmielen, Walter Nolen, and Jared Ivey.

The veteran presence of Pegues should be on display for an interior defensive line that features new names like transfer Nolen, and a trio of freshmen including Kam Franklin, Kamron Beavers, and William Echoles. Notably, Echoles was just named On3 Freshman All-American and 247 Preseason Freshman All-American team.

On the field, Pegues’ progression has been noticeable as he looks to be more of a disruptor. Looking ahead to this season, the biggest benefit for Pegues is another year to consistently learn the technique of the position. His physical traits will always pop, including the quickness and footwork off the snap — especially helpful when being charged with holding the middle of the defense. He has developed more pass rushing technique in his hands, and he’s being paired alongside a defensive front that can already attack in a variety of ways.

Pegues historically has run a 4.86 40-yard dash, while Ivey, Nolen, and Princely all run sub 5.0s — 4.7 for Ivey and Princely. And then there’s sophomore sensation Suntarine Perkins who runs a 4.5. Pegues will be tasked, along with Nolen, with being an anchor in the middle but if his trend of getting better at disrupting plays from the middle continues, it will help this speedy defense when things get pushed outside.

Introducing your 2024 Chucky Mullins Courage Award Winner!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/vuEZl9QM5q

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 22, 2024

CLICK HERE to read more about the Chucky Mullins Courage Award Winner. 

The 34th winner of the annual award, Pegues told his family today that he will plan to wear the number 38 jersey during home games and his original number 89 with the ’38 patch’ on the road. On August 31st at 6 pm CT inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Pegues will make his debut in the number 38 jersey when the Rebels take on the Furman Paladins in the season opener.

“I just won the Chucky Mullins Award” 🥹#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/fVp5C5APZm

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 22, 2024

Next Up

You can see JJ and the Rebels in action on Saturday, August 31 at Vaught-Heminway when they open the season against Furman.